This is a collection of news about border issues, particularly those seen from Arizona and regarding the right to keep and bear arms. Sources often include Mexican media. It's often interesting to see how different the view is from the south.
If you have comments or questions drop a line to (the name of this blog)(a)knoxcomm.com

Thursday, September 22, 2011

AZMEX POLICY 22-9-11

AZMEX POLICY 22 SEP 2011

Note: Nitpicking: Either he doesn't know, or just upping the rhetoric but "dictatorial schemes" have killed many millions. Or maybe he went to school in U.S.?

NEW YORK .- President Felipe Calderón told the UN General Assembly that the multinational organization has "chamba" what to do to stop arms sales that feeds the power of organized crime that is "killing" more people than all the dictatorial schemes together."It is urgent to put serious controls in producer countries and sellers of high-powered weapons, not to continue feeding the arsenals of the criminals," he said.

"The United Nations has chamba, has work to do here. Should continue to promote the International Treaty on Arms Trade and prevent their diversion to activities prohibited by international law, "said Calderon in the top gallery of the world community, with leaders and heads of state, after the president's message Barack Obama, United States, and Dilma Roussef, Brazil."To all surprised by the dozens or hundreds or thousands of deaths caused by authoritarian and repressive regime and of course we also repudiate," said Calderon.

However, "we must be aware that organized crime is now killing more people and more younger people than the dictatorial regimes all together at this time. Now thousands, tens of thousands in our Latin America, particularly between Mexico and the Andes are dying because of criminals, and I greet with affection and respect my fellow presidents of Central and Latin America. "

Previously, Obama had identified as threats to peace as poverty and terrorism, without mentioning the drug trafficking or organized crime.

Fortaleza de Mexico

Calderón Hinojosa, in turn, warned that the power of crime is stronger than many governments, but "certainly not ours."

The president called on consuming nations to their moral obligation not only to curb the sale of arms, but also consumption, and if unable, unwilling or resign themselves to the latter, then look for alternatives.

"While there are still drug users willing to pay tens of billions of dollars for their addictions or preferences, such is financing criminal activity and will remain its primary source. Mexico is doing its part, is fighting crime in all its manifestations with energy, but it is necessary, now more than ever, drug-consuming countries take effective steps to reduce their demand. "

Calderon anticipates, "I will say that this is not possible, that the demand for drugs continues to grow, here in America almost 30% of the young are drug users. (...) we are forced to find how to cut the funding sources and seek all options, including alternatives to the drug market. "

(Note; at least the homicide rate is higher, but they are correct the situation is probably worse."including old and current government and military officials. " With their extensive access to arms and material.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 22 .- Central America faces a "dangerous crossroads", where impunity is the "law" and a further deterioration in security can severely damage "the already weak" institutions and justice systems, according to a report released today in the United States Senate.

The 58-page report, released by Sens. Dianne Feinstein, Democrat of California, and Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, provides an X on the "crisis" of security in Central America and recommends increased investment in several key programs in the region.

"Impunity is the law in Central America. The U.S. can greatly help to support programs that reduce impunity and show that there are consequences for criminal activities," said the report, commissioned by two senators, who chairs the Senate Narcotics Control International.

The report said homicide rates in Central America in 2010 were "significantly higher than in Mexico."

Last year there were 18 homicides per 100 000 people in Mexico but, by way of comparison, there were 50 homicides per 100 000 people in Guatemala, 66 in 77 in El Salvador and Honduras, the report said.

According to the document, the Mexican drug cartels, drug traffickers, local, traditional youth gangs and other illegal criminal networks "are taking advantage of weak governance and poor systems of justice" in Central America.

As Mexican President Felipe Calderon, deepening the fight against drug traffickers in its territory, they have increased their presence in Central America.

Groups such as "Los Zetas" gulf and Sinaloa cartels have found an environment in Central America "conducive to business" and operate virtually "free from prosecution," he said.

On March 30, the commander of United States Southern Command, Gen. Douglas Fraser, warned that the so-called "Northern Triangle" of Central America-Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, "has become probably the most deadly area world outside the war zones in Iraq and Afghanistan and elsewhere ", said the document.

The gang numbering about 70 000 members, are particularly active in this triangle and add the violence in the region, although other criminal networks, similar to the mafia, operating there and are often linked with the elites, "including old and current government and military officials. "

United States has given Central America 361.5 million dollars for security programs over four years, through the Regional Security Initiative for Central America (CARSI, in English).

But the analysis, which is based on field visits, interviews, official documents and non-recommended, given the fiscal climate in Washington, also becomes more emphasis on "strengthening internal funding sources of Central American nations ".

It also recommends seeking additional contributions from the private sector, international financial institutions and other donor countries.

The bipartisan report does not demand great amounts of new foreign aid but encourages the State Department and US law enforcement agencies to "focus on key programs that have proven effective in both Central America and other areas of the world."

It also "encourages" the Central American countries to put in place institutional reforms and improvements in legal frameworks. In Guatemala, for example, the level of impunity reaches 98%, he said.

The analysis calls for expanding the entire region police units "first line" cooperating with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), such as those already operating in Guatemala and Panama.

The document calls for more support for programs to protect witnesses, judges and prosecutors, to build confidence in the judicial systems of the area, and extraditions to the United States of "high-level criminals."

It also suggests helping Central American countries to identify "the sources and causes" of violence in the subregion in order to understand the relationship between Mexican drug traffickers and local criminal organizations.